The former student of the Master of Industrial Engineering of Tecnun, Jon García Urbieta, has been invited this summer to graduation ceremony at MIT by his colleagues at the Space Propulsion Lab last year. Urbieta spent a year developing a Master Thesis in research in Boston, and it was undoubtedly one of the best experiences of his life.

"At MIT they are working on what they think is going to be the technology of the future, the technology that will be 10 or 20 years from now. You see Departments energy working on fusion, audiovisual laboratories working on the next platform to the Smartphone... There they are constantly asking themselves what is going to be next. They want to be the first and are working on technological projects with a high social impact," says García Urbierta. When he recalls how he gained admission to this prestigious university, he repeats something he learned during his time at Tecnun: "If something motivates you a lot, you set a goal and you work towards it, you can achieve everything you set your mind to. My experience at Tecnun has been very good, you notice a strong difference from when you enter in the first year to when you leave with the Master's. It allows you to make a click that prepares you for the future. It allows you to make a click that prepares you for the professional world," he says with a smile.

Jon knew he wanted to work at MIT since his junior year. "When I finished my Master's degree, I got the opportunity to have an interview in Boston, even though I knew it wasn't safe. But I saw that they were interested in meeting me, I learned to get rid of that fear, and in the end, I got the admission," continues the native of San Sebastian.

"My project consisted of the characterization and essay of potential propellants (ionic liquids) for electrospray ion propellants," explains the former student of Tecnun. "These are electric propellants for CubeSats, small satellites. The function of these thrusters is to perform attitude control (high-precision maneuvers once in space). I was able to work with and analyze the ionic liquids used to generate this propulsion, in particular some very special ones. I was the first in the world to test several of them."

All his work is documented in an extensive file. When he returned from his Boston adventure, he wanted to make an analysis of the work carried out, the tools used and the results obtained, establishing a methodology for reference letter. And recently, he has received the news that this document will be published on the intranet of the MIT laboratory where he was working. He is excited to admit that his tutor and director from the laboratory have told him that the lines of research he left open would be the basis for future theses. "It makes me very excited to hear that, and also that my colleagues have referenced my work," he continues humbly.

Urbieta currently works at department for electric motors at GKN Automotive and his work is related to the work he developed at MIT at area for electric propulsion. "The fact of having been at MIT gives you prestige, not only because it is considered one of the best universities in the world, but also because of the experience gained. The opportunity to work and learn from the best in the world in the field, working in diverse teams developing cross-cultural and multidisciplinary competencies and the feeling of opening your mind, getting a very complete vision."

Urbieta insists on the experience he acquired in Boston, which he undoubtedly put to good use from the very beginning. His versatility led him to combine project research with different activities. He was part of the MIT soccer team, obtaining the runner-up position in the state cup. He participated in a Design Hackathon of the cities of the future reaching the final and presenting his work to world experts such as Don Norman, contributed to the organization of a Blockchain lecture , attended various talks including that of the renowned astronaut Scott Tingle, and gave sessions on mechanical and thermal design with finite element tools in the program of design of a CubeSat under the name mission statement Colibrí, in collaboration with Professor Álvaro Lleó in the area of team management, with students of the Universidad Panamericana (UP). He also took the subject Space Propulsion graduate course at MIT's AeroAstro School, obtaining an excellent grade. And, as if that were not enough, at Harvard University he took a subject more closely linked to business, to fill in the technical part with a profile in Management.

Today, when asked about his future, he answers that he sees himself working in a sector that is in full swing, as is currently the case with the electrification of the automotive industry. "I see myself working at the cutting edge of technology because it gives you the opportunity to learn a lot," concludes the young engineer. 

Recently, he has been invited to the 36th lecture International Electric Propulsion Conference to be held in Vienna next September, as part of the MIT Space Propulsion Lab team.